Kingston fires up new HyperX 3K SSD

Shane McGlaun, 11th April 2012

Kingston has rolled out a new SSD targeted at gamers and enthusiasts on a budget. The HyperX 3K - which uses MLC flash NAND - is a 2.5-inch form factor unit with a SATA 3.0 6 Gb/s interface.

The SSD offers improved performance for gamers or enthusiasts interested in fast booting and optimized load times for video games.

The drive uses the new SandForce SF-2281 controller and clocks in at a sequential read throughput of 555 MB/s, a potential write throughput of 510 MB/s and maximum random read/write IOPS of 85K/74K.

The drive controller offers wear leveling and durability to help increase performance along with longevity - giving the SSD a MTBF rating of 1 million hours. Finally, the drive sips power with less than half a watt needed at idle, 1.58 W needed during read operations, and 2.11 W needed during write operations.

"Kingston is devoted to offering the best upgrade solution for every market segment. The new Kingston HyperX 3K SSD is specifically designed to meet the needs of budget-minded gamers, PC enthusiasts and A/V professionals looking for powerful upgrades," said Kingston rep Ariel Perez. "We are thrilled to offer an SSD that combines HyperX performance and Kingston quality at a lower price.”

The SSD - protected by an attractive black aluminum case that is perfect for gamers - will be available in four different storage capacities: 90 GB, 120 GB, 240 GB, and 480 GB. Kingston is also offering the SSD as a standalone drive or as an upgrade kit that includes tools and required mounts.